Rapscallion by Ross Leidy

Ross Leidy wrote: I am pleased to introduce a new looper's blade - Rapscallion.

Hi Ross. Stunning as usual. When will you ever manage to draw breath enough to update your website - new core material, new veneers, new compositions!

Hey Ross,

I'm bumping this up from page 3, where it clearly doesn't belong.

I am anxious to read the review.

tabten5 wrote: I would be interested to hear what a so-called high-level player thinks of the blade. From the little I've seen, I've not read of a very good player who has played with a Leidy blade.

Thanks for the update Caballero. Very sorry to hear about the loss in your family, my condolences. Being part of the academic world (only as a PhD-student at this point though), I can certainly sympathize with the added strain a new semester brings on.

Also, expanding your experience with other blades in order to provide a more accurate and informed review is to me a very valid reason for delaying the review a bit. I'm currently on the waiting list for a blade (should be my turn any time now! ) so I have a little extra interest invested in this blade, as it would seem to fit my general criterias quite well. 

One thing I believe you've failed to mention (perhaps on purpose) is what rubbers you (and your coach) are using with it, this would be very interesting for me to know, even at this stage.




Edited by Hozze - 09/18/2012 at 2:37pm

Caballero, sorry to hear about your loss.

Don't know who it is, but someone just put up a review of the Rapscallion on tabletennisdb:

http://www.tabletennisdb.com/blade/no-brand-rapscallion-ross-leidy.html

I- The Rapscallion is a uniquely beautiful 5ply all-wood blade made specifically for the mid to high level looper. It is an OFF to OFF + speed (Ross had it on Off-, but my impression and those that reviewed this blade with me is that it is much faster and powerful). Its control for me, after about two days of playing, is 9 out of 10 (with many gears to accommodate). It is hard medium, and medium flex, with a flex-hard touch as oppose to “soft” touch. This allows for absorbing attack balls, helps generate lots of mechanical spin and power-shots. Its throw angle, relative to speed and handling, is between the broad range of low and medium high (this may require a separate discussion).

Its stats are: 

Compact-2 head -157mm (L) x 150mm(W)

FL handle - 104mm (L) x 23mm (thick)

85.4g 

6.2mm thick

The specific composition is of Masur Birch, Mahogany, Kiri, Mahogany, Masur Birch. The inner ply, the Kiri, is noticeable larger, while the outer and harder plies are thinner. As discussed before, this combination has a gradual expansion toward hardness away from the center, and this may be an important reason why this blade can be hard and flexible at the same time.

The handle shows a beautiful layout and goes well with the Masur: the Chakte Viga produces a smooth contrast while the Olivewood replicates the Masur's appearance. (After heavy use, I found the Chakte-Viga to change colors. The handling, sweat and hand’s oil did not help in keeping its beauty. But after sanding it and applying some wood conditioner, it recovered some of its luster. I had now requested other woods for the new blades’s handles; woods that are friendlier to the heavy handling I will be giving to them.)

This is a very “forgiving” blade. It absorbs the opponent’s shots, and allows you to carry and then direct the ball at your wish to the other side of the table.  However, this blade works better in the hand of a player with some experience wanting to improve the game’s speed and power considerably. This is definitively not an “All” or defensive blade, but more a hybrid between power and offensive blade. The player should be willing to take (a relatively short) time to fine-tune the technique in order to make more effective use of the blade’s many gears. 

II- The freak-figured Masur Birch has been a piece in blades many times before, as a trip to the New York MET’s weapon section would show. However, I have not seen evidence yet of this wood being the chief hitting or cutting element in any composition. Having the Masur Birch outer ply as the whacking veneer is only one of the ways the Rapscallion is a different blade type. As mentioned before, it is genuinely gorgeous, hard and yet flexible, the ideal blade for loops near and far from the table. And better yet, without artificial flavors. This is a true worldly product with plies from across the globe, and thanks to the Internet, put together with feedback from experiences of people around the world. 

Knowing your wood well has always been considered an extremely important human occupation. Our first tool was, most likely, a piece of wood and since then, we have not ceased to go back to the longest-lived member of the natural world. In fact, despite the technological revolution, plastic and metal still fall short to the organic wood. Weight for weight, wood is as strong as steel. Its molding has always been the vocation of dedicated craftsmen and craftswomen. And as responsible and creative wood-makers from the past has shown, working the wood creatively and conservatively may help solve even our most mundane challenges. Perhaps it is because of the extra resin in the Masur Birch’s bird-eyes, but the all-wood Rapscallion needs no carbon ply to propel power shots. 

III- The arrival of the Rapscallion may be compared to the arrival of the steel blade. Bronze hammers, swords and Chinese Dao abounded from Western Africa and Iceland to all the way to the Asian Pacific coast. Yet, when smiths, under multiple pressures, improved their techniques to convert iron to steel, bronze weaponry began its long, but definitive and gradual migration to museums. A steel blade was much lighter and stronger than a bronze one. Its comfortable weight would allow a fast and decisive stroke in a life saving situation, and thus it became both the offensive and defensive weapon of choice. It could also be molded in infinitively more shapes and forms. They were rarely made in mass quantities, but made to fit the styles of its users. This would required, of course, a close interaction between the user and the creator, not that different from that of the taylor and the trouser user.  

We all know too well the obsession that afterward developed among warriors and knights (i.e., Samurais and martial artists). In many places they would even be buried along with their steel weapons. These were blades invariably created under the utmost care of a skillful smith, who would turn the iron hundreds of times to make it hard and yet as artistic as possible. This instrument was not, at all, a weapon of simple mechanics, but a piece of art that, as a rule, its beauty paralleled its use.  A specialized career grew in China from learning to “read” the blade’s beauty lines (wood grains?). Today, archeologist findings often match beautiful blades with how well they worked in battle (advantageous expediency). This should not surprise us. Differently from current popular expressions, beauty has long been linked to efficiency and utility. 

I am not planning to be buried with my Rapscallions, but I would sure want to have them close to me as often as possible. 

IV- As hinted previously, my connection to the Rapscallion began when I approached Ross with a query about a specific composition. I wanted to know about a possible two-speed blade that could help regulate my strengths and weaknesses with loops on both sides of the table. Soon our correspondence turned into the topic of the most appropriate veneer combinations for loops. But it was not until our exchange grew more familiar that Ross revealed his secret weapon, the Rapscallion, which he had been deliberately constructing and also having it tested. I was fortunate to be included in the circle. 

When Ross learned I preferred the flared handle, he then began the construction of a new Rapscallion. Something interesting began to happen the moment he started working with this Rapscallion: he sent me daily informative and visual updates about how the blade was taking shape. Each step, each message, each picture, just made it more attractive. Ross also asked me questions about each specific detail of the blade, making sure that it would be tailored to my style and taste. I came to know the blade rather well even before it arrived. This was a fabulous experience: to be treated like a king who had ordered a blade from a renown smith.  Finally, he sent me the blade on the mail and also sent me a review written by a European high level player. 

It took three long days, but it finally arrived. And this is how Ross’ superior craftsmanship looked:

It came on a leather pouch, with a signed certificate of authenticity and of ITTF approval. On the side you can also see Ross’ signature on a beautiful piece of wood. This was clearly special, each ply perfectly mulled and glued, and the shiny Masur Birch was uniquely beautiful. The moment I wielded it, it felt like the excalibur, perfect in my hands. I should admit, however, that it took me some time to learn to wield it properly. But as soon as I felt more confident with it, the improvement in my game was noticeable by all with whom I have played before. 

Immediately after unveiling the blade, I tested its sweet spot, and how sweet and capacious it was! Here is a clip showing the ball’s bouncing evenly and on a constant tone across most (if not all) of the blade’s head. Since doing this test and putting on several rubbers (which I will talk about later), I have purposely measured and compared the Rapscallion’s sweet spot and other qualities, to the following blades: Palio TN Double Carbon, Freundlieb TT-Piet KIC-7, Andro Kinetic, BBC 1Ply, American Hinoki WRC9, Timo Boll ALC and Spirit, and Donic Dotec Hinoki (this over the other Donic mentioned in a previous post). My conclusion is that for the purpose of offensive play and power looping, close and far from the table, the Rapscallion is a much better value than any of them. 

The Rapscallion’s traits would be closer to the Timo Boll ALC, with the Donic, BBC and Palio somewhat near too. The main differences between the Rapscallion and the Timo Boll would be that the former would hardly produce any vibration, the “feel” would be closer to the hand, the throw angle would be a bit more curve-like, and the dwell time would be noticeable longer. It would produce, however, similar power shots. These are all ideal characteristics for a looper's blade.

Consider, too, that the other blades have different traits for different purposes. The BBC 1Ply is a relative fast blade with a softer touch and is great for blocking, lifting heavy underspin, particularly dexterous for distance defense, but cannot compare with the Rapscallion power and drive (the Raps' sweet spot is markedly larger). The soft-touch Donic Hinoki is a nice blade too that works better for defense with a decent level of attacking power, but cannot compare with the tremendous force coming from the Rapscallion. 

These comparisons show, again that the Rapscallion cannot be easily categorized; it strolls between the tremendous strength of power blades and the dexterity of offensive blades.

I will next share some of my “mini” reviews and the reviews of other higher level players I had sent to Ross, and later will address questions about rubber, gears, and adaptation. 

Edited by caballero - 09/23/2012 at 11:41pm

Carryboy wrote: Rapscallion, Rapscallion, Rapscallion!!!!!! This blade is really beginning to intrigue me know. Even the name rings of a sinister quality. When I got up this morning my wife asked me what is a Rapscallion, I shrugged and did not make her the wiser, but that is not good. Rapscallion, Rapscallion..........................................

A bit of advice : tell her bit by bit. Silence is no good in this case

watchski wrote: Do you guys want to see my sick Rapscallion that Ross is making me?    It is OVER THE TOP!   but is sure to please the eye... i have a picture of it... who wants to see it? Ross, whatcha think?  should we show them?

watchski wrote: my new Ross Leidy custom blade with Canxan Negra burl (rare wood)...

Beautiful! That burl is a gorgeous piece of timber - no wonder you were so excited about wanting to show it to us.

Forum members,

Thanks for your patience. As I mentioned before, I would have wanted to have posted all the review installments a few weeks ago, but a family tragedy slowed me down significantly. 

The good news is that we are getting close to publish all the material I have prepared for this review. And here is another installment on the Rapscallion review. 

In this post I am sharing a first attempt to review the blade. This an (lightly edited) email I sent to Ross on August 29. 

The highlights of this post are:

1- The Rapscallion’s compared to other blades (since the writing of this email I have included other blades to compared, of which I already commented on a previous post).

2- Its throw angle and gears (I think this part is super important to understand the blade well).

3- Spins, chops, loops and sweet spot. 

4- My own usage (I should add that since writing this I won several important matches with this blade on a local tournament)

5- At the end I have included comments on the blade by two of the Virginia Tech TT team with USATT scores of 1600 and 1750 respectively.

In my next post I will be sharing coach Dan Notestein’s review of the blade. 

Hope you find this material helpful.

------

Ross,

Hope you are doing well. Allow me to share more thoughts about the blade. In a way, this could be seen as a first draft that attempts to put my subjective impressions in order in preparation for the more formal review writing.

I have played with the "Rapscallion" every single day for the last two weeks now. With a few exceptions, I have played against players at a much higher level than I currently am. The blade has been dressed with five different rubbers (T05, T6f4x, Nittaku Narucross GS Super Soft, Palio CJ8000 - Quality B,C and Globe 999, both on a 2.3 Lemon Sponge-- three more to go: TG3eNo, Sanwei T88 and Axiom Vega), and have also been played by a limited, but well-experienced and critical players. 

The jury concurs that this is not a common type of blade, definitively superior to the bunch, perfect for all types of loops, and excellent for chopping, backhand and forehand drives. But since good looping blades are difficult to find, this blade should distinguish itself for assisting loopers to produce unmistakably smashing and spiny loops that would land on the opponent’s side more often than with other blades. The power it produces is comparable to Timo Boll's ZLF, but with significantly more dwell time. If compared with Timo Boll’s control blade, the blocking on the Spirit FL may score better, but only because the power and the gears in the Rapscallion are plenty more. And this is, in my view, the most interesting characteristic of the Rapscallion as I was not alone to perplex over the fact that, like the ant, this was a very light blade with a strength beyond its weight that would throw an amazing punch (it was this unexpected surprise that may have accounted for the first impression as “uncontrollable”). 

When not playing with the Rapscallion, I have been wielding a TT-Piet KIC-7, custom-built combination blade by Peter Freundlieb. This is a good paddle too, much better than the pricier (yet, not necessarily bad) Andro Kinetic I still have. This German blade sent my older Palio Double Carbon, and a Stiga All to rest indefinitely. But now, after playing with the Rapscallion non-stop for two weeks, I don't want to play with any other blade, not even with the TT-Piet KIC-7. I have been sold to light yet potent dwelling blades that have been carefully constructed with an extra large sweet spot. 

It took me the first 5 hours of play and touch-games, but the Rapscallion soon grew in my right hand better than the other blades. I also found it more controllable than any other I have played with (including the ones I borrowed from my club friends [the Spirit FL may be an exception in control, and the Donic Dotec in its comfortable handle]). The throw and the blocking, which were issues at first, soon were not. The throw angle is not variant and unpredictable as you feared, but is just a bit more sensitive to the player's stroke. Players will understandably want to feel and read the blade's throw angle immediately. But playing with this blade for me was like graduating from a three-gears beginners' bike to a 10-gears fine mountain-bike that could ride through the city's pavement unnoticed and also fly you across Snow-Shoe unscathed. The young rider will necessarily have to experiment with the many more gears before feeling totally in control on the new bike. This means that the Rapscallion offers the player a larger selection of distant shots than a more defensive blade. And, after carefully testing its gears, the player will receive as a grant precise and consistent shots (I can say this with certainty as measured by visible improvements on my backhand). 

As I told you before, I am not the best of players. The group with whom I have been playing this summer are all experienced, fine, and dedicated players between 1600-2300s--not your average U.S. club attendees. They play no fewer than 5 days a week (the coach plays every single day) and have been overwhelmingly focused on improving their game and learning as much as possible from a special visitor from China, Wu Xian Sheng - “Mr. Wu” (coached China's Liu Guoliang when Guoliang was a little kid). On the other hand, I reentered TT recently and have been focused on unlearning most of what I knew, and building new muscle memories. So, I cannot say I have won any match with this blade against my better playing friends (have won many against other players on the weekends outside of the club, though). 

However, I have certainly won a few club games and, more significantly, have been mastering difficult new techniques much better with this paddle than with the Andro or the TT-Piet KIC-7. Forehand loops are much easier to produce (although they are still a challenge compared to my backhand), but the two things that the Rapscallion has clearly done for me has been to intensify the control and speed in my backhand loop and drive, and develop a better control on the forehand drive that was unimaginable two weeks ago (of course, the blade is not the only reason for this improvement, but it was certainly a factor).  

Moreover, I have found that compared with other blades I have played before, the Rapscallion is also better for chops and under-spins, which are new lessons I have been receiving from the coach these days. Its light weight allows me to quickly move my hand from behind the table to near the net. And because there is no noticeable "catapult" effect, I can better brush the ball while also "dwelling" it to spin it more precisely on short or long responses, as I see fit. Again, the light weight, combined with power and dwell-time (with no catapult effect), allows me to try a bewildering number of micro movements that would lift a spiny ball in any number of ways. The blade's dwell time cuts into the opponent's spin and provides me with relative control and also with a new spin, while its power helps me move the ball faster than expected (which has been more clearly shown in my backhand) (I am unable to review this blade's ability to assist in flips because I am barely learning about them).

Soon after feeling comfortable with the blade, I noticed its forgiving nature. I found that, much more than before, I could hit the ball standing outside of my comfortable position and still make it to the other side of the table. Hitting fast topspins on the forehand more than 50 times without a drop against the club’s coach was not possible a few weeks ago, but while holding the Rapscallion it became a benchmark I can now keep in record. And though learning appropriate position and technique were the most important reasons for this newly found control, I also have to credit the Rapscallion for its aid. In order to gauge the Rapscallion’s ability to keep the ball hitting on the table, I often moved from one blade to the other, comparing the Rapscallion with as many blades there were available at the club. 

For a time I wondered how this blade could have many gears in its throw angle, throwing the ball between low and medium angles, while also allowing me to topspin it and chop it back with more precision than with other blades. It seemed incongruent to offer various shot angles while also providing the player with more control in looping or driving the ball back to the other side. This was a burning question until I became aware of two issues. One is about the way the player must use the blade and the other is about the blade’s construction. 

First, the consistency of my loops and drives was closely linked to the amount of spin I applied to the ball. The more spin (mechanical or brushing), the more precise the ball fell on the table. The blade is certainly a “spinfile” and will award loopers and choppers with unbelievable. Of course, spin-less blocking was also good, so good that my drill partner would have to remind me to spin the ball back to him because it was so easy just to hold the paddle against backhand drives. Yet, more precision came from the spiny counter drives/loops I sent to the other side. 

Second, from the moment I first handled the blade I noticed its uncommonly large sweet spot. This I documented by bouncing the ball on different parts of the bare blade, measuring the blade's feel and ball’s height, and by repeatedly hitting down the ball on the table around the blade’s entire bare surface while studying its vibrations and feedback. The resulting view was that the blade appeared amazingly consistent across and around: no matter where I hit the ball, it felt as if I was hitting on the middle of the blade--a rare trait indeed, which must result from the high quality of it craftsmanship. Without doubt, this expanded sweet spot accounts for its forgiving nature (attention sinners) and its ability to help the player to keep the ball in the game.

You have already read Dan Notestein review of the blade, which I plan to include here. Two other players have promised just a few more sentences, which I will also add to my review. One of them has already sent his, and they are below. 

Sudip Saha 

12:21 AM

Hi Dennis,

 Thanks for asking me for my review. Let me try this one,

       My friend at the local table tennis club got this blade. I tried it for twice or thrice. The blade feels really good to handle. It gives good control while playing loops. I am not a chopper and I don't push that much [either]. So, can't tell much on this aspect. But, I think chopping and pushing should be OK with this blade. Overall, this is a nice blade.

Let me know if you find something wrong with this review.

And, yes, my blade is Timo Boll Spirit FL. It's an Arylate Carbon blade.

See you soon in the club.

Thanks,

Sudip

[message from another VT team player who preferred to stay anonymous]

The weight of the blade is on the light end (base on my limited experience) and the blade was well balanced.  The handle of the blade, i thought, was well designed and fits my hand quite nicely.  Looping with the particular blade is easier than the ones I own.  The blade is quite fast if I remember correctly and yet does not pose problem when looping.   

Thanks for the review Caballero, may I ask some questions :
How is the feel, hard or soft ?
How is the sound ? I hope it will not give a hollow sound.

lamb636 wrote: Hi Ross, I think your craftsmanship is absolutely amazing, it is inspiring seeing the beautiful blades that you have made. Your blades are like works of art, I would almost buy one to hang it in my room, but I couldn't resist the temptation of using it.  As a rough guide, how much would a blade like this cost? What about a semi-custom, where you choose your own woods and handle?

Thank you - I appreciate your generous comments.  Most of the blades I sell are built on-demand, so they in that sense they're all custom.  The only distinction on a semi-custom is that one of my own compositions is used for the blade.  On each blade, I offer a number of ways to customize it:  head shape, handle shape, handle design, and handle wood.  The price depends on the options chosen.  I'd prefer not to insert pricing into this thread, but if you'd like to discuss it further, please feel free to email me or submit a contact form from my site linked below.